Thanks Gaz. The more he goes on Radio/TV and talks about his move and how he wants to play the more likely it is that he will at least try to perform and not just hang around collecting the money. He'll look like a right tosser is he just takes the money.
I've been impressed by him, I believe he's had other offers for more money and he really is here because of his respect for Harry.
Heard on Talksport this morning that his deal is £35k a week rising to £45k with add-ons. He allegedly turned down Arsenal and Spurs as they wanted him as a back-up and not 1st choice. He wants to play and that is his principle demand which Harry, rightly, has been happy to agree...
I get the impression that we have three media divas at the club now - Redknapp, Barton and Rio. We will be on the telly and in the news all the time....so what's new. But I do think Rio means it, he really could have got a lot more money in the States or the Gulf if that was his prime motivation. And from the WC and that little video of him doing the medical etc he's an articulate bloke (in stark contrast to his brother) who has a lot to offer the squad and understands what the job is this season. Unfortunately I don't believe his fitness will hold up and he will have the shock of not having Vidic playing next to him.
Me too, sensible contract & salary, good leadership qualities and still maintains the desire for first team football, rather than sitting on the bench collecting a fatter salary. Perhaps we should consider sending SWP to ballet school to improve his balance? Off his wiki page:- Ferdinand enjoyed physical expression, taking part in not just football and gymnastics classes but drama, theatre and ballet too. He was an able child: he represented Southwark in gymnastics at the London Youth Games, by age 10 he had been invited to train at the Queens Park Rangers academy, and at age 11 he won a scholarship to attend the Central School of Ballet in London. He avidly attended the ballet classes, travelling to the city centre four days a week for four years. However, while the lessons surely improved his balance, it was professional football that he desired. Youth team career Ferdinand's superior footballing abilities were evident even as a child: when he was 11 years old a youth coach, David Goodwin, remarked "I'm going to call you Pelé, son, I like the way you play." Ferdinand was regularly playing in youth teams and at Eltham Town he played as an attacking midfielder but team scouts saw the young player had the physical potential to be a centre-back instead. Teams vied for the young footballer's services and during his youth he trained with Charlton Athletic, Chelsea, Millwall and Queens Park Rangers. Ferdinand was ever curious of different places and even travelled north to Middlesbrough's training ground, spending a good part of his school holidays in a bedsit just to be there. London team West Ham United was to be his footballing home, however, and he joined their youth system in 1992. He signed his first Youth Training Scheme contract in January 1994 and played alongside players such as Frank Lampard at the academy. Success pending at club level, international football also began for Ferdinand; at 16 he joined the England youth team squad to compete in their age group's UEFA European Football Championship, gaining his first experience of international competition. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Ferdinand
Thrilled to have him here. came across very well on BBC over the world cup, wants to play, a leader and bit personality. More I think about it the better I feel about it
On his fitness.............according to Giggs, Rio was fit for 95% of last season, but Moyes didn't want to play him. Time will tell I suppose.
